Air-brake coupling.



' H. T. INGHRAM.

- AIB BRAKE ooUPLING. APPLIOATION'PILBDNOV. 24. 1909.

Patented Dec. 1'3, 1910.

' 5 SEBETSSHEET 1. I

H. T. INGHRAM.' AIR BRAKE GOUPLING.

' APPLVIUATION FILED NOV. 24, 1909. 978,755; Patented.

A JT

Dec. 13, 1910.'

` Patente Deba-113, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. T. INGHRAM.

AIR BRAKE ooUPLING.

l i PPLIO'A'l-ION FILED NOV. 24, i909. 978,755'. Patented Deo. 13,1910.

`5 SHBBTFSHBET,

H. T. INGHRAM. l' AIB. BRAKE COUPLINGI ArPLIoA'rIoN FILED Nov. 24, 1909.

' Pmd Dec. 13,1910.

' 5 SHEBTS-SHEET 5.

HOWARD T. INGHRAM, OF FAlRFIELD, IOWA.

AIR-BRAKE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 13, 1910,

Application filed November 24, 1909. Serial No. 529,785.

To all whom'it may concern;

Be it known that I, Howann T. 'INoHn-mr, citizen of the United States,residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in :Air-BrakeCouplers, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention i'elates to automatic air brake couplings and has for itsobject the provision of a strong, durable and thoroughly eflicientdevice of this character, the

construction of which is such that it may bey that will operateautomatically on cars ofdift'erent heights when traveling over all kindsof roads irrespective of atmospheric conditions.

A further object is to provide means for allowing a limited vertical andlateral movement of the coupling heads, and means for positivelypreventing detachment of said heads when making a curve or travelingover rough, uneven roads.

A .Still further objectof the invention generally to improve this classof devices, so as to increase their utility, durability and etliciency.`

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description,it being understood that various changes in forni, proportions aiidminor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims.

For a. full understanding of the invention and the, merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of thel details of construction and themeans for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ot' an automatic air brake couplingconstructed in ac-' cordan'ce with .my invention; showing the cars iiilposition to be coupled. Fig. 21s a 'a perspective view partly insection, of one of the hangers and its associated parts. Fig. 6 is avertical sectional View ot Fig. 5. Fig.

7 is a perspective view of the universal pipel coupling connecting thebranch pipe of the mainvalve within the adjacent coupling head. Fig. Sis a` longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a verticalsectional View of the inain valve. Fig. l0 is a detail longitudinalsectional view o the coupling heads showing the construction of thenipple on the female. coupling member. y

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following`description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters. l

The improved coupling forming the subject. matter of the presentinvention may be used in connection with either passenger or freightcars, and by -way of illustration is shown effecting the union of thetrain pipes 5 on adjacent freight cars, indicated at 6 and 7. Dependingfrom the bottom of each'car and rigidlysecured thereto by bolts oi'siinilar fastening devices 8, is a hanger or bracket 9, the latter beingpreferably substantially U-shaped, as shown, and having itsinteninediate portion connected by a transverse brace 10 having acentrally disposed opening 11 formed therein which reg isters with aIcorresponding opening 12 formed in the lower portion of the hanger topermit the insertion of the reduced portions or trunnions 13 of anoscillating block or support 1l. The upper trunnion 13 is provided witha square head l5 which ena correspondingly shaped socket formed in a cappiece 1G, the cap piece 16 being retained in position on the, head 15 inany suitable manner, as for instance, by al clamping screw 17. The cappiece 1G is preferably reinforced and strengthened by the provision ofan annular rib or flange 1S,

there being a guiding ear or lug 19 extendpermit the passage of alongitudinally disposed draw 20 being inclined or beveledin oppositedirections at 22 to permit a slight vertical movement ofthe draw barwithout binding or wedging in the slot 20.

Supported on the outer end of each draw bar 21 are correlated clampingmembers or heads 23 and 24, said heads emg connected at their rear endsby a transverse pipe 25,

to the intermediate portion of which is secured a rectangular socket 26adapted to receive the outer end of the adjacent draw bar 21, saidV drawbar being rigidly secured 'to the socket 26. by screws or similarfastening devicesI 27. The male member 23 comprises a longitudinallydisposed pipe section hav ing a plurality of radiating wings or tins 28preferably extending from one end of the pipe section te the other andhaving their intermediate portions inclined or beveleol` at 29 toconto/rm to the shape of the conical portion 3() of the mating femalemember on an adjacent car.- Each female member 24 is provided with anannular flange 3l and a iiared mouth 32, which latter serves as a guidefor the male member when the cars are coupled. Each female member 24 isalso provided with a cylindrical portion 33 having a plurality ot'circumferential strengthening ribs 34 formed integral therewith andprovided with a flange 35 which engages a similar flange 36 formed onthe adjacentend of the transverse connectin pipe 25, the fianges 35 and36 being rigid y united by transverse bolts 37.

he Wings 28 of the male member bear against the interior walls of thefemale member when the cars are coupled, Iwith the relatively narrowportions 3S of the wings or fins 28 bearing against the interior wallsof the cylindrical portion 33 of the female member7 and with the Hatfaces 39 of said Wings or ns bearing against the interior Walls of theannular ange 31 of the female member, thus to eii'ectually center themale member with respect to the female member and revent'accidentaldisplzuement of the coup ing heads when traveling around curves 0r overrough, uneven roads, The conical portion 30 and annular iange 31 of eachfemale Vmember are preferably formed With a plurality of longitudinalslots 40 which serve,to permit the escape of icc and snow in Winter andthus allow the heads to couple regardlessfot' atmospheric conditions.

Slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the cylindrical bodyportion 41 of leach male member, is a valve stem 42 having ione endthereof provided with a cross bar or head 43, and its other end formedWitha valve 44, which latter normally bears against a gasket or seat 45in the cylindrical portion 41 and is retained in such position by a coilspring 46, thus to normally prevent the iow bar 2l, the lower wall ofthe slot l of air through the passage in the member 41 from one car toanother. O'ne end of Vthe spring 4G bears against a partition 47 in thecylindrical member 41, while the other end thereof engages a transversepin 43 carried by the stem 42, the tension of the spring being such asto ca use the valve 44 to normally and yieldably engage the seat 45.

llxtemling inwardly from the liangc 36 of the female member and spacedfrom the interior walls of the cylindrical portion 41 of saidfemalemember, is a nipple 49, the function of which is to engage thecross bar 43 and impart a longitudinal movement to the Stem 42 to effectthe opening o1 the valve 44 when the coupling heads are united so as topermit the flo-w of air from one car to another. The exterior Walls ofthe nipple 49 grooves 50, in which are seated suitable packing strips51, the latter being adapted to 52 and 53 carried by the interior wallsof the cylindrical portion 41 of themating male member.

Arranged beneath the draw ba r 21 is a'longitudinally disposed rod 54having` its intermediate portion extended through an opening 55 in theoscillating block or support 14, one end of the rod being rigidlysecured to a bracket 56 depending` from the draw bar 21 and the otherend thereof provided with a nut 57. A coil spring 58 is interposedbetween one face of the oscillating support 14 and the nut 57 and asimilar sprino 59 interposed between the opposite face ofD theoscillating support 14 and the bracket 56, the function. of said springsbeing to -receive the impact of the heads when the cars are coupled andalso to return the heads to normal position after the coupling headshave been released or detacl'icd.-

Extending through the slot 20 in the oscillating` block or support 14and preferably (,lisposcd above the draw bar 21, is a rocking` lever G()having its intermediate portion pivlotally mounted at (31 between theValls of said slot so as lo allow rocking movement of the lever on thesupport. The rear end of the lever GO is bifurcatcd to t'orm spaceddepending arms (32, which latter span the adjacent draw bar 2l and areconnected by a roller o3 bearing against the upper longitudinal edge ofthe draw bar, as best shown in Fig, o ol the drawings. The other end' ofeach lever 60 terminates in an upwardly eX- teudiim` hook G4, while anarm extends upwardly from said lever at a point between thel pivotfl andthe hook 64, said arm terminating in an eye 66. Spaced strap irons 67are disposed on opposite sides of the drawbar 21 and are connected attheir opposite ends by rollers 68 and 69, one 4of which engages lthehook 64, while the other roller bears against the lower longitudinaledge of bear against Vcorresponding packing stripsv are provided withspaced circumferential the draw bar 21. Slidably mounted in theVperforation of the guiding ear 19, is an arcuate bar or rod having oneend thereof extended through the eye (SG and provided with a terminalhook 71 and its opposite end pro- 1 vided with a nut or stop 72, therebeing a coil. spring 73 interposed between the nut 72 'and ear 19 andsurrounding the arcuate rod 70, as shown. Thus it will be seen that therollers 63 and 69, by engagement with the upper and lower longitudinaledges of the draw bar 21, serve to normally and yieldably retain the barin a horizontal plane, while the inclined faces 9.2 of the oscillating.su pport lil, serve to permit tilting movement of the draw bai' 21 in avertical plane to allow `the coupling heads to engage the coupling headsof mating cars of different heights, the

spring 73 serving to returnjthe draw bar 2l to normal or horizontalposition after each tilting movement of the latter. It will also benoted that by reason of the pivotal connection between the oscillatingsupport 1-fl and hanger 9, the draw bai' 21 and its associated parts arefree to swing .laterally in a horizontal plane when traveling` aroundcurves, thus permitting 4both lateral and vertical movementof the drawbar 21.

The springs 5S and 59 not only serve to return, the coupling hea ds tonormal position' after the cars are detached, but. also serve tonormally and yieldably hold the nipple 49 in engagement with the packingon the male member, thus to elfectually prevent leakage between theparts when the cars are coupled.

As a means for automatically locking the male member in engagement Ywiththe female member, there is provided a latch, preferably in the form ofa cam 74, which latter is pivotally mounted at '75 between spaced ears76 on the female member and projects through an opening 77 in, saidfemale member for .engagement withthe adjacent reinforcing wing or tin28 on the male member.

Slidably mounted in a block or keeper 'T8 on the female member, is a`short rod section 79 having one end thereof operatively connected withthe cam 74 and its other end projected through the keeper '7S andprovided with. an eye 80 for ei-igagement with a relatively long rodlsection 8l, the latter being extended through an opening 8B Iin theoscillating block or support 14 and provided withan adjustable collar orstop 84. A; ycompression spring S5 is coiled around the short rodsection 79 for the purpose of moving the locking member or cam 74 intoen-y gagement with the wing or fm. on the male member. The stop 84normally bears 'against one side ot the oscillating member lll andserves to hold the locking member or cam 74 in inoperative position.'`"W hen the cars are coupled however, the impact of the coupling headswill force the latter, together Yith the draw bar`- 21, longitudinallyof the Arod 81 longitudinally, thus causing the stop 8l to engage theadjacent face of the oscillating member 14 and effect the release of thelocking member or cam 74, as will be readily understood.

Connected in the train pipe 5 of each car,

is a main valve 80 to which is connected a conductor preferably formedin three sections 87, 88 and 8S) and through which air under pressureflows from the train pipe of one car through the male member of onecoupling head and thence through the female member of the adjacentcoupling head to the train pipe of the next succeeding car when saidcars are coupled. Slidably mounted for vertical movement'. in the valvecasing, is a stem 90 having a conical shaped valve 91 secured to' itslower end and providedat its upper end with a nut 92, there being a coilspring .0iinterposed between the nut 92 and a cross arm 94.- carried byhe stem, as best shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. A clamping nut. 95 isthreaded on an extension 96 ofthe valve easing and is provided with acentral annular flange 97 which operates iny a. recess in said valvecasing and serves to compress the packing 98 therein and thuseli'cctually prevent leakage of the valve. The opposite ends of the arm9stare provided with openings 99 'which receive suit-v able operatingrods 1-00, the latter being extended to the opposite sides of the car sothat the operator may rotate the'inain valve to control the How of airfrom the train pipe of one car to the train pipe of another car withoutthe necessity of going between the cars. A vpipe or conductor 101communi# catcs with 'the interior of the valve casing and may. beprovided at its outervendwith an air coupling of the usual constructionso that the present device maybe used on cars in which the oi'dinarvsystem of air couplers are employed.

rlhe main valve S0 is so arranged that by turning the member 91 in onedirection, the

flow offair from the train pipe of one car through the coupling head of.said car to an adjacent car, may be cut off and said air permitted toflow through the conductor 101 when the latter conductor is providedwith the usual coupling head, and -when the valve is rotated in theother `direction the port communicating with the conductor 101 will 'besli-ut and the aii1 in the train pipe on one car directe-d lthroughtliecoupling head on an adjacent car, thus permitting the device CYD.the opposite side of the time permitting the to be used in connectionwith or Iindependent of the presentystem of air couplings, as beforestated'. v

In order to permit a slight longitudinal movement ot' the pipe section88 when the cars are coupled and uncoupled, the latter is slidablymounted within the pipe'section 89, there being a sleeve 102 threaded onthe pipe section 8S) and engaging the threaded end ot' a cup or gland103, the packing 1011 `in said gland being pressed Alaterally intovengagement with the'pipe section 88 to prevent leakage of air whenrotating the ca piece 105, as best shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Oneend of the pipe 88 telescopes the pipe 89, While the other end thereofis provided with a semi-spherical socket piece 106, which latterreceives the semi-spherical head 107 ot' the adjacent pipe section 8T. lcollar 108 is loosely mounted on the pipe section 87 and is providedwith a plurality ol laterally extenlling arms 109, the terminals ofwhich are bent to produce fingers 110 seated in recesses 111 formed incent face of a connecting ring 112.

A threaded sleeve 113 is loosely mounted for sliding movement on thepipe sectiony 88 and is provided with a collar 114: having' a pluralityot arms 115, similar in construetion to the arms 100, the terminals ofthe arms 115 being provided with laterally eX- which enter recesses inring A112. A coil spring 117 interposed between the collar 114 and thesocket meluber 106 for the purpose of normally and yieldably holding thesocket member in contact with the head the tension of the spring 117being adjusted by rotating the threaded Sleeve 113, as best shown inFig. 8 ot the drawings.

The head 107 is provided with an annular recess 118, in which is seateda packing 119, which latter bears against the interior Wall of thesocket member 106 and serves to eftectually prevent leakage, while atthe same pipe sections 87, 88 and 8l) to move in any directionregardless of the position assumed by the cars when being coupled ortraveling around curves or over rough, uneven roads.

Attention is here called' to the fact that tending lingers 1.16`

the valve il is so constructed that in -the event of breakage or leakageof the train pipe on one car after the cars are coupled, the air fromthe train pipe on the other car directed by the pi the head ofthe vr ve44, will maintain the valve in open position and thus permit the air toescape to effect the application of the brakes, the spring 46 serving toreturn thevalve 44 to closed position after the brakes have beenapplied.

The operation ot the device is as follows: When the cars are broughttogether, the

male member on one car enters the female' the adjae section 89 directlyon draw bar.

member on the adjacent car and presses the draw bar E21, longitudinallyagainst the 'tension ot' the springs 59, thus permitting the springs totorce the locking members or cams T4 into engagement with the Wings ortins on the female member to lock thY male and t'cmale members againstaccifflental displacement. l'Vlien the coupling' heads are broughttogether, the nipple 10 on one head will actuate the cross stem of anadjacent head to open the valve and permit the passage olI air from thetrain pipe ot one car to the train pipe ol.i ai'iother car. lVhen thecars are uncoupled, the springs 5S) will automatically return the drawbars 21 to normal position and in doing so cause the stops 8i to engagel'the oscillating supports 141 and release the locking member 7e, theevers (50 and springs 73 serving to permit lateral, longitudinal andvertical movement ot' the draw bars and their associated parts duringthe coupling and uncoupliug operation.

.From the foregoing description it is 'thought that the construction andoperation of the device will be understood by those Iskilled in the artand further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

llaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 1. Thecombination with a car, ot aiianger suspended from the car, a supportmounted for oscillation in the hanger, a draw bar ried by the supportand provided Willi related coupling heads, and a lever pivotally mountedon the support and having means l'or engagement with the upper and lowerlongitudinal edges o1" the draw bar.

2. The combination with a car7` a .hanger suspended t'rom the ear, anoscillating sup port pivotally mounted in the hanger and having a slotformed therein, one Wall. of which is inclined or beveled in oppositedirections, a draw bar extending through the slot in the support,correlated couplingheads carried by the draw bar, a lever pivotallymounted on the support and having one end thereotl bearing against theupper longitudi nal edge of the 'draw bar, and links pivotally mountedwith 'the other end of the lever and provided with a roller bearingagainst the lower longitudinal edge of the 3. The combination Withacanot' a hanger suspended from thecar an oscillating sup port pivotallymounted in the hanger, a draw bar extending through the support,

correlated coupling heads carried b the bar 413 on' the valve draw bar,a lever operatively connecte(` with the upper and lower longitudinaledges oi the drawbar, and ay spring operatively conw nected with one endot the lever for maintaining the latter iu normal position.

l. The combination with suspended from the car, an oscillating supacanof a hanger port pivotally mounted in the hanger, a draw barextending through the support, correlated coupling heads carried by thedraw bar, a lever pivot-ally mounted on the support and having means forengagement with the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the drawbar,'a rod connected with one end of the lever, and a coil springsurrounding the rod. s

5. The combination With a car, of a hanger suspended from the car, anoscillating support pivotally mounted in the hanger and provided with avertically disposed slot, a draw bar extending through said slot,correlated coupling heads carried by the draw bar, a lever pivotallymounted in the slot of the support above the draw bar and having meansfor engagement with the upper and lower longitudinal edges of said drawbar, a rod carried by the draw bartand provided with oppositely disposedstops, and springs surrounding the rod and interposed between theopposite faces of the support and the adjacent stops. Y i

G. The combination \vitl1 aca1,of a hanger suspended from the car, anoscillating support pivotally mounted in the hanger and having avertical slot formed therein, a draw bar extending through said slot,correlated coupling heads carried by `the draw bar, a lever pivotallymounted in the slotof the support above the draw bar and having one endthereof bifureated, a roller carried bythe bifurcated end of the leverand bearingv against the upper longitudinal edge of the draw bar, linkssuspended from the other end of the lever and'connected by a rollerbearing against the lower longitudinal edge of the draw bar, anarcuaterod connected with the lever, and a coil spring surrounding the arcuaterod.

7. The combination with a car, of a hanger suspended from the car, anoscillating support pivotally mounted in theA hanger and having avertically disposed slot, a draw bar slidably mounted in said slot,correlated coupling heads carried by the draw har, means t'or normallyand yieldably retaining the draw bar in extended position` a leverhaving one end thereof provided with a roller bearing against the upperlongitudinal edge of the draw bar, links suspended from thc other endofthe lever and provided with a roller bearing against, the lowerlongitudinal edge of tht` dra \v bar, a spring operatively connectedwith the lever for normally .retaining the draw bar in horizontalposition, and means extending through the support for clamping thecoupling. heads on one car in engagement with thc coupling heads Aon anadjacent zar.

S. 'lhe conlliination with a car, of a hanger suspended from the cal',an oscillating support pivotally mounted in the hanger and provid-'alwith a vertical slet, a longitudinally movable draw bar extendingthrough the slot., correlated coupling heads arried by the draw bar, alever pivotally mounted in the slot above the draw bar and of the drawbar, links suspended from the hooked end of the lever and connected by aroller bearing against the lower longitudinal edge of the draw bar, anarm extending from the upper edge of the lever and provided with an eye,a rod connected with the eye, and a spring carried by the rod.

9. The combination with a car, of a hanger suspended from the car, anoscillating support pivotally mounted in the hanger and having a. squarehead, a drawbar slidably mounted in the support, correlated couplingheads carried by the draw bar, a lever pivotally mounted on theoscillating support above the dra w bar` one end of said lever beingadapted to bear against the upper longitudinal edge of the draw bar andthe other end-thereof being operatively connected with the lowerlongitudinal edge of the draw bar. a cap engaging the angular head ofthe support and provided with a perforated ear, an arm extendinglaterally from the lever and provided with an eye, an arcuate rod havingone end-thereof connected with the eye and its other eind provided witha stop nut, and a coil spring carried by the rod and interposed `betweenthe nut and perforated eye of the cap.

l0. The combination with a car, of a hanger suspended from the car, anoscillating support pivotally mounted inthe hanger and having a verticalslotformed therein, a draw bar slidably mounted Ain said slot,correlated coupling heads carried by the1 draw bar, a lever pivot-allymounted in th-e slot above the draw bar and having its 'oppositeends-operatively connected with said draw bar, a spring operativelyconnected with one end ofthe lever, a rod extendingithrough theoscillating support and having its opposite ends provided with stops,coil springs surrounding the rod and bearing against the opposite facesof the oscillating support and. the adjacent stops. a locking memberpivotally mounted on one of the coupling heads, a rod operativelyconnected with the locking member and extending through the oscillatingsupport, and a stopl carried by the free end of the locking rod.

1l. The combination with a car, of a. hanger suspended from the car, anoscillating support` pivotally mounted in the hanger, a draw bar mountedfor longitudinal movement through said hanger, a lever pivotally mountedon the oscillating support 'and having its interm'taliatc portionprovided vwith an arm terminating in an eye, one end of the lever beingp'rovided with a hook, the opposite end of the lever being Vbifurcatedand adapted to span the longithe oscillating support and provided with aperforated ear, a rod having one end thereof engaging the eye on the armof the lever and its other en d extended through the ear and providedwith a nut, and a spring interposed between the perforated ear and saidnut.

. 12. The combination with a car, of a hanger suspended from the car andprovided with an opening, a transverse bar secured to the hanger andprovided with a corresponding opening, a support having reduced portionsjournaled in the openings in the hanger and bar respectively, one ofsaid reduced portions being provided with an angular head, there being aslot formed in the central portion of thesupport, a longitudinal drawbar'extending through. the slot of the support, correlated couplingheads carried by the longitudinal bar, a cap engaging the square head ofthe support and provided with an upstanding perforated' ear, a leverpivotally mounted in the slot of the support above the longitudinal barand having its opposite ends operatively connected with the oppositelongitudinal edges of the draw bar, an arcuate rod having one endthereof provided with a stop nut and its intermediate portion ext-endedthrough the perforated eye in the cap for engagement with theintermediate portionY of the lever, a coil spring surrounding the rodand bearing against said stop nut, and means for normally and yieldablyretaining the draw bar in extended position.

13. The combination with a car, of a hanger suspended from the car, anoscillating support pivotallymounted in the hanger and having avertically disposed slot formed therein, the lower wall of which isinclined or beveled in opposite directions, a draw bar slidably mountedin the slot of the support and bearing against the apex of the inclinedwalls of said slot, correlated coupling heads carried by the draw bar. alever pivot ally mounted in the slot of the support above the draw barand havingone end .thereof bifurcated and its other end provided with ahook, a roller connecting the.

bifurcated portion of the lever and bearing against the upperlongitudinal edge of the draw bar, links suspended from the hook andconnected b v a roller bearing against the lower, longitudinal edge ofthe draw bar, an arm projecting upwardly from the lever between itspivot and hooked endand mounted on one of the coupling heads and adaptedto engage the coupling head on an adjacent car, when said cars arecoupled.

14. The combination with a car including a train pipe and valve, of ahanger susl pended from the car, an oscillating support pivotallymounted in the hanger, a draw bar slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in the support and having a vertical movement independent of thesupport, correlated coupling heads carried by the draw bar, meansmounted on the oscillating support and engaging the upper and lowerlongitudinal edges of the draw bar on opposite sides of said support, aconductor forming a connection between the valve and coupling heads, a`valve carried by one of the coupling heads, andnneans carried by theother coupling head and adapted to engage and o en the valve in thecoupling head of an a jacent car when saidcars are coupled.

15. The combination with a car includinga. train pipe and valve, of ahanger suspended from the car, a support yieldably mounted in thehanger, a draw bar slidably mounted for longitudinal movement in thesupport, a lever pivotally "mounted onthe support and engaging the upperand lower longitudinal edges of the draw bar on opposite sides of saidsupport, correlated cou.- pling heads carried by the draw bar, aconductor forming a connection between the valve and coupling heads, acam .pivotally mounted on one of said coupling heads and' adapted toengage the coupling head on an adjacent car when said cars are coupled,means for moving the cam `to operative position when the cars arecoupled, and means for releasing the cam when the cars are uncouplcd.

1G. The combination with a car including a train pipe and valve, of aVlongitudinal dran' bar suspended from the car, correlated couplingheads carried by the draw bar a conductor forming a connection betweenthe valve and coupling heads, a lever secured to the valve stein. androds operatively coiniectcd with the opposite ends of the lever andextended to the adjacent sides of the ear for operating said valvemanually. i

17. The combination with a oar including a train pipe and valve, of abracket suspended Jfrom the car, a draw bar mounted for longitudinal,lateral and vertical move ment in the bracket, correlated coupling lradiating strengthening fins secured thereto,

heads carried by the draw bar, a conductor forming a connection betweenthe valve and coupling heads, means for normally and yi'eldablysupporting the draw bar in eX- tended position, and means for lockingone of the coupling headson one car in engagement with the matingcoupling head on anadjacent car when said cars are coupled.

18. The combination with a car, of a draw bar suspended from the car,correlated couplingheads carried by the draw bar, one of which isprovided with'a conical body 'portion having an annular-ange terminatingin a laterally fla-red mouth, the mating coupling head being providedwith correspondingly shaped radial fins extending the entire length ofsaid mating head.

19. The combination with a car, of a draw bar suspended from the car,correlated coupling heads carried by the draw bar, one of which isprovided with a longitudinally slotted conical body )ortion having anannular flange and provi ed with a laterally flared mouth, the matingcoupling head bemg provided with. a plurality of radiating strengtheningfins extending the entire length of said mating head and adapted toengage the interior walls of a conical head when said heads are coupled.

20. .The combination with a car, of a draw bar suspended from the car,correlated coupling heads carried by the draw bar, one of which isprovided with a conical body portion having a flared mouth and providedwith a reduced cylindrical portion having the other coup @ng head beingprovided With correspondingly shaped radiatmg tins adapted to engage theinterior walls of'an ad]a cent coupling head.

21. The combination with a car, of a draw.y bar suspended from the car,correlated coupling heads carried by the draw bar, one of which isprovided with a rconical shaped body portion having a iiared mouth andprovided with a longitudinally extending nipple, the

other member being provided with corre` spondingly vshaped fins adaptedto engage the interior Walls of a` mating conical coupling head, and avalve carried by the other coupling head and movable to open position byengagement with the nipple.

22. The combination with a car including a train pipe and valve, of a.draw bar suspended from the car, correlated coupling heads carried bythe draw bar, one of which is provided with a conical port-ion having aflared mouth, and the other provided with a plurality of radiating fins,a transverse pipe connecting the coupling heads, a conductor forming aconnection `between one of the coupling vheads and the valve, an aux-V.adapted to engage and open the valve.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD T. INGHRA'M. [L s] Witnesses:

GERTRUDE K. Fowmm, E. F.-SI1\I1\I0NS.

